Punchboard amusement device



Dec. 1949 c. R. SCHMIDT ET AL.

PUNCHBOARD AMUSEMENT DEVICE 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1946 O0000O00000000000000000000000000nfi00 INVENTORS (7.13.56. 1.02 iab FZJZLDun iuan Ml: vwuJL/ ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1949 Filed March 23, 1946 c. R. SCHMIDT ET AL 2,490,325

PUNCHBOARD AMUSEMENT DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INSULA'HON W INVENTORS CTRScbmiat 'FJCDuniUan ATTORNEYS C. R. SCHMIDT ET AL PUNCHBOARD AMUSEMENT DEVICE Dec. 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23, 1946 IHSULATON INVENTORS CRSchmidt FULDzznz'uan ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 6, 1949 OFFICE PUNCBBOARD AMUSEMENT DEVICE Carlton B. Schmidt and Floyd H. Dunlvan,

Stockton, Calif.

Application March 23, 1946 Serial No. 656,756

Claims.

This invention relates in general to an improved amusement device.

In particular the invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a punch board of novel electro-mechanical design and function.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electro-mechanical punch board arranged so that, upon a player punching one of a, predetermined number of plugs from the board, visual-as well as audible-electrically actuated signals automatically function to indicate that a prize has been won.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electro-mechanical punch board, as above, which includes a punch board of relatively cheap and conventional construction in itself, and which may be replaced when fully punched out, by a new board, without disturbing the remainder of the apparatus.

The punch board includes plugs adapted to be punched out one by one by the player, and another object of the invention is to provide selectively placed movable members in the apparatus alined with and adapted to be moved by the punching out of a correspondingnumber of plugs, and whose movement actuates the signals.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electro-mechanical punch board, as above, wherein the electricactuated signals are relay controlled, and the relays embodied in the device being of the type 'which reci'uire resetting once eriergized;' there being means provided to simultaneously operate the receiver to discharge the plugs therefrom, and to reset the relays.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical amusement device, and yet one which will'be exceedingly eifective for the purpose for which it is designed."

These objects are'accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts .as willfully appear by a perusal of the following shortened'illustrating the device with the parts thereof in normal position, and with the relays .Fig. 3 is ,asimilar view, fore'shortened to a greater" extent, illustrating the position of the,

parts'when'a winning plug is punched from the 2 board, and after the corresponding relay has been closed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear end elevation of the relay assembly.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged viewjof one of the con-- tact pins detached, and partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a diagramof the electric circuit.

Referring now more particularly to the char acters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises an upstanding, ornamental cabinet or case I which includes a front panel 2, a base I, and a back panel 4.

The front panel '2 is formed with a substantially centrally disposed, relatively large rectangular opening 5 backed by a punch board 6, which punch board is removably and releasably sup- Above the punch board 6 the front panel 2 ofthe case I is formed with a plurality of circular windows, 9, here seven in number; such windows being of vari-colored glass or equivalent material.

Behind each of the windows 9 there is mounted; a separate electric-light unit In, the circuit for which will be described hereinafter.

An upstanding skeleton frame I l is mounted in the case I mainly to the rear of the punch board 6, and supports a contact block l2 directly to the rear of said punch board, but in spaced therebetween. The contact block l2 comprises a plurality of upstanding, equally spaced contact plates l4 facing the punch board, and dielectric spacing sheets l5 which engage between said contact plates 14 maintain the same in proper unitary relationship. The parts of the assembled contact block II are secured together and into the skeleton frame by meansof bolts I6 which are suitably insulated away from the plates H.

The contact block I2 is formed with a multiplicity of horizontal bores l1 extending therethrough from front to back, and said bores IT= correspond to, and are alined with, the bores 1 in the punch board 6." The contact block I2 include! i a number of contact, plates-l4 correspondingto the number of light units l0 plus one, with said additional plate being the rearmost one in the block, and which rearmost plate is identified at l8.

A plurality of contact pins l9 corresponding in number to the light units III are provided, with each contact pin constructed in the manner shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each contact pin H3 is metallic, and includes a dielectric guide sleeve fixed and extending substantially full length thereon. One set of spring contacts 2| is secured on each metallic contact pin 20 a predetermined distance from the head 22 of such pin. In the present embodiment there are seven of the contact pins l9, and in each thereof the spring contacts 2| are a like. distance from the head 22 for the purpose which will hereinafter appear. Each of the seven contact pins also includes another set of spring contacts 23, with said contacts 23 a different distance from the head 22 on each pin; i. e. a distance such that when the several pins I9 are projected into the bores l1 until the contacts 2| make electrical engagement with the plate I 8, the spring contacts 23 will make electrical engagement with different and corresponding ones of the plates l4. In other words, the arrangement of the spring contacts 23 on the pins I9 is such that when said pins enter the bores. l1 to a given extent, as hereinafter described, said pins each close an electrical circuit between the plate I8 and different ones of the plates I4. The spring contacts 2 I. and 23 gain access to the plates in the contact block l2 by reason of the dielectric sleeve 20 being cut away, as shown, to permit of projection of said contacts 2| and 23 to a slight extent.

Above the contact block l2 the upstanding skeleton frame supports a horizontal transverse row of relays, indicated generally at 24, and which relays are each of a type which is normally releasably latched open, but which is adapted to be unlatched and spring-closed when the coil 25 of the relay is energized. These relays, once energized, remain closed until they are manually reset to open the same. Each relay includes athree-point spring switch 26 adapted to be sprung from the open position of Fig. 2 to the closed position of Fig. 3, by a pivotally mounted, spring-actuated bar 21 of L-shapeflvhich bar includes a pin 28 which engages beneath the lower leaf spring of the switch, and which-leaf spring isextended for this purpose.

ward swinging movement under the influence of spring 29 by means of. an upstanding latch arm 30 having an oifset foot on its lower end cooperating with the bar 2!, as shown. When latched as in Fig. 2 the arm 30 prevents the switch-closing bar 21 from rising, but upon energization of the coil 25 the latch arm 30 swings toward said coil under the magnetic influence, and releases the bar 21, whereupon the switch 26 closes.

A horizontal relay reset bar is disposed transversely in the case directly above the position occupied by the rear ends of the switch closing bars 21 in their elevated position; said relay reset bar 3| including forwardly projecting end legs '32 pivotally connected to the frame for vertical swinging movement of said relay reset bar 3|, which bar is normally maintained in an elevated operative working position by aspr-ing 33.

The relay reset bar 3| is adapted to be swung downward to cause resetting of the bars 21, and resultant relatching of the latch arms '30 by means of a cam 34 which is mounted on a shaft 35, and rotation of which s'h'aftcauses the cam 34 to function. The cam 34. can only be actuated The switch closing bar 21 is normally maintained against -upto reset the relays to normal open position by the attendant of the device, for the reason that the shaft 35 can only be engaged and rotated from exteriorly of the case by a special key 36 which the attendant maintains in his possession.

Directly below the vertical gap l3 between the punch board 6 and the contact block I2, there is a tray or receiver 31 fixed at the rear on a cross shaft 38, and open at the front, as shown. The tray 31 is normally in a raised, non-discharging position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The contents of the tray, when the same is in the above normal position, can be seen through a window 39 in the front of the case below the punch board. Directly below the window 39 the front of the case is formed with a transversely elongated slot 40 through which the contents of the tray 31 discharge when said tray is tilted from its normal full-line position, as in Fig. 3, to the dotted line position in said figure.

The tray 31 is operated as follows:

A vertical push rod 4| is attached, at its upper "end, to one end of the relay reset bar 3|, and

thence depends downwardly to one side of the contact block I2. Below the latter the push rod 4| is formed with a bend 42 and a forwardly projecting leg 43 which pivotally connects, at its forward end, with a crank 44, on one end of the cross shaft 38 which supports the tray 31. Under the influence of the spring 33 the relay reset bar 3| is normally raised, with the consequence that the push rod 4| is in a similar position, which in turn maintains the tray 31 normallynon-tilted, However, upon downward swinging of the relay reset bar 3| the push rod 4| acts to swing-the crank 44 in a direction to tip the tray 31 forwardly, whereby its contents may deliver through the slot 40. I r j The electrical circuit. of the device is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, and for the purpose of clarity the wires which are included in such circuit have been omitted from all but said one figure I 4 A transformer 45 mounted at any suitable point in the case is connected on the primary to a 110 volt circuit, and is connected on the secondary, at opposite terminals, to a leaddi which extends to plate 18 of the contact block;

and a common lead 41 which runs to one side of each of the coils 25 of the relays 24. Theremaining contact plates M of the contact block each connect by separate leads 43 to the coils 25 of corresponding relays on the opposite side of said coils. It will thus be seen that whenever a circuit is closed between plate |8 and any-one of the plates H, the corresponding relay coil 25-;

will be actuated, causing closing of the switchof the relay, of which said coil forms a part: P

The center contact of each of the'three-pointspring switches 26 is connected 7 to a common lead 49 extending from the same terminal of the transformer as the lead 41. One of the other contact points of each three-point spring switch 26 is connected to a separate lead 50 having the corresponding light In interposed therein, andsaid leads 50 connect with a common ground wire 5|. The secondary of the transformer 45 is grounded, as at 52, to complete the light circuit; the ground 52 being tapped into the secondary of the transformer at a point to give a lower,

voltage for the lights ||I than is required for the,

relays.

The remaining contact of each of the threepoint spring switches 23 is connected 'to a lead 53 which extends to oneterminal of a .-buaaer...

54, whose other terminal is grounded at 55.

, In the above circuit it will. be seen that the buzzer circuit is common to all three-point switches 26, so that upon closing of any one of said switches the buzzer actuates. The lights I0, however, illuminate only when the corresponding switch 26 is closed.

The above described amusement device functions as follows:

At the outset, and before a punch board 6 is mounted in place, the contact pins !9 are inserted part way into any desired ones of the bores ii, the location of the pins being optional with the owner or attendant. The punch board 6 is then mounted in place, a number of the plugs 8 therein alining with pins 19. The heads 22 of the contact pins are then closely adjacent the back of the board or the inner ends of such plugs. In this position of the contact pins the circuit is wholly deenergized; the lights II] are out; and. the buzzer 54 is silent.

The player is provided with a hand supported plunger '56 which includes a collar 51 intermediate its ends. The player, after selecting one of the plugs 8 as being a possible winner, places the plunger 56 against the outer end of said plug and pushes inwardly until the collar abuts the face of the punch board.

If the selected plug does not engage a pin l9 and thus is not a winner, such plug after being pushed from the punch board merely drops through the vertical gap !3 into the tray 31. However, if the selected plug is a winner, it engages the head 22 of the adjacent and alined contact pin i9. As such plug is pushed rearwardly out of the punch board it causes the engaged contact pin to be pushed an equal distance through the contact block I2. The length of each plug s is such that when it is approximately three-quarters out of the punch board the contacts ii are in electrical engagement with the plate l8, while the contacts 23 are in electrical engagement with one of the plates I4. This causes a momentary closing of the circuit through leads G1 and 48, and thereafter such circult is immediately broken as the plug is pushed completely out of the punch board and falls through the gap is into the tray 31, and at which time the contact pin has been moved to a position such that the contacts 21 and 23 no longer electrically engage any plate. This is necessary for the reason that once a pin has closed its circuit, such circuit must be broken to permit subsequent normal functioning of the device with the remaining unselected winning pins.

When winning contact pin is pushed through the contact block 52, as above described, with a momentary closing of the circuit between leads 4i? and as, the corresponding relay, through the coil 25, is actuated or unlatched, whereupon its switch 26 closes. When this occurs thecircuit for the corresponding light i0, and the circuit for the buzzer 54, are simultaneously closed, providing a visual, as well as an audible, signal to the player, indicating that the selected plug was a winner. The illuminated light It is of course seen through the window 9.

Windows 9 are preferably provided with numbers or other indicia thereon as indicated in Fig. 1,. to denote the relative value of the prize won.

When a win occurs, as above, the attendant inserts the key on the shaft 85 and rotates the same in a direction to cause the cam cc to swing the relay reset bar 39 downwardly. Upon such downward movement of the bar 3| it resets the relaywhich was actuated by the win, and at .,the same time, through the medium of the push rod 41,.swings the tray 31 downwardly so that the winning plug 8, together with any others which may be in the tray, are discharged through the slot 40. The attendant, and the player, may thus readily check up as to how many punches he has taken. The cam 34 is then turned back to starting position, whereupon the relay reset bar 3| rises to its starting point, and in turn causes the tray to return to its non-accessible position.

The above described operation is repeated for each of the remaining controlling plugs 8 in the punch board. It should here be stated that while seven of the contact pins i9 have been specified, this number is the minimum; as many pins, of the different contact spacings, being usable as the owner may desire, In other words more than seven prizes may be given out by the full punching out of the board 6 if the owner so chooses.

When the board 6 is fully punched out, it is removed, the pins I9 are reset in the starting position, and a new board 6 mounted in place.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A game apparatus comprising a punch board provided with a plurality of spaced apart bores, plugs in the bores, a contact block spaced from the punch board, said contact block being provided with a plurality of bores, such bores being in substantial alinement with the bores in the punch board, a normally open electrical signal circuit, such circuit including spaced electrical contact members carried by the block and exposed through the side walls of the bores in said block, sliding contact pins disposed in a selected number of the bores in the contact block, each of said pins including a pair of spaced apart contact elements operable to engage between a pair of the contact elements exposed through the walls of the bores in the block as the pin slides through the bore and thereby causing the signal circuit to become operative, the pins normally projecting into the space between the punch board and the contact block, and a plunger operable to be selectively projected through one of the bores in the punch board to drive the plug therefrom and into the space between the punch board and the contact block, certain of the plugs as they are driven from the punch board being engageable with contact pins projecting into said space and which are alined with such plugs whereby to move such pins through their respective bores in the contact block when engaged by the plugs.

2. A structure as in claim 1 in which the width of the space between the punch board and contact block is greater than the length of the plugs whereby the latter will fall downwardly by gravity as they are driven from the bores in the punch board.

3. A game apparatus comprising a contact block provided with a bore, a pair of spaced apart contact elements opening into thebor'e; a; cofit'oct slidhbl y mounted intlie: bore, such pin having a pair of'spaceci apart contact elements arranged tw respe'ctiveh engagethe contact elements in theborewhen the pinz i's moved through the bore, means exterior oi the bore and selectively mowableinto engagement with; the pin to slide it;

coil and cause it' toattract dnd release the latch when the pin contacts engage the contacts in the-bore; I

4. A structure as in claim 3 including manuallyoperated' means to re-s'et the latch emf openthe switch;

8 5. A sfim'etizre as" inclaim 4 mwhich the resetting means includes a pivotally mounted reset bar engageaible with the lever, a shaft, acam ontlie sha ft engege'able with the bar upon turning of theshaft, and means operable to selectively turn the shaft.

GARLTON R. SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES GITED- Thefollowing references are of record in the file, 01? this patent:

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